Of Faux and Friends

Chapter 8

A/N: Another chapter. Please Review.

Rated M (for a lot of reasons)

"I can't imagine why you'd want to leave," said Madison, reclining in the expensive Italian leather armchair that elegantly modified her corner office. "Are you unhappy here?"

"Not at Vogue," Serena said truthfully, as she stared distractedly out the window.

The sky was darkening, the setting sun causing a hierarchy of blue hues to paint the sky in a fabulous sequence as colors blended and faded from light to dark. The skylight was forming, the busy streets filling with cars as students and workers began their long commute home. She would miss the bustle of the busy street corners, the vendors shouting prices into the air, the cheerful jingle of honking horns and laughing patrons.

"Then why are you asking for a transfer?" asked the middle aged woman.

"Things in my life are complicated right now. I need a change."

"And do you think running away is the only answer?"

"No," said Serena looking at the woman carefully. "But if I don't get out of town I'll suffocate here."

Madison sighed, brushing her dark bangs from her face. From first glance no one would have guessed that Madison Blake, the Editor and Chief of Vogue Magazine was approaching her fifties. She was beautiful, sophisticated and successful. She was everything Serena wanted to be. Soon after she graduated from college, Madison had let her on as an intern, helped her steadily rise from nothing to Fashion Director in a few short years. She owed the woman everything.

"I felt like that once," said the older woman, smiling at Serena gently. She got up slowly and walked to the small bar on the east side of the office. "After my husband divorced me." The blonde watched silently as she poured herself a glass of cognac, the amber liquid sloshing around gently in the crystal tumbler. "Keep in mind, he had cheated on me before that. Many times, with a secretary at his law firm. And he divorced me. I felt lower than dirt and thought running off somewhere else would make all my problems go away. But I didn't." She took a sip of the glass before continuing. "I worked my ass off until I was in control of my own company. Now I had just as much success as he did, almost as much power. And I showed that son of a bitch what he missed out on, just because he was thinking with his downstairs brain more often than not."

Serena smirked at the story. "I'm not you Madison and our situations aren't the same."

"True, they aren't. But wherever you run Serena, your problems have a way of finding you. It's like a cut, you can take care it right away or you can let it fester until it's too late. Don't let running away from this be something you'll regret later on in life. Take a day or two off, think about it. I would hate to lose you here, but if this is what you need, then I won't stop you from leaving."

Serena smiled sadly before getting up to leave. She waved goodbye gently before stepping out of the office, her blue suede Mary Jane's clicking against the marble floors. Practiced movements led her to the elevator, monotony into the parking lot. The snapping of her shoes a tune she had heard many times before. She wondered if this would be the last time she found herself in the parking lot beneath the looming tower in the fashion district of Azabu. If things went her way she would have a plane ticket by morning and from the clouds she could watch the skylight disappear as she left the only home she had ever really known.

She frowned gently, reaching the door of her black Mercedes before idly tossing her purse into the passenger's side, and stepping in, the worn, comfortable leather yielding under her weight.

Minutes later she found herself driving nowhere, quietly appreciating the twinkling stars as they shone and sparkled above her, drinking in the sites of the bright lights and glowing faces. Her heart ached with nostalgia. She remembered walking down these streets as a teen, hoping to make it here someday, to be somebody in the glamorous world of photographs and fashion, of cashmere and lace. Despite the success, the money, the swatches and accessories, she was still unhappy, trouble still managed to find her, and she found herself regressing into the self conscious awkward teenage girl that she thought she left behind so many years ago.

Maybe Madison was right. Maybe running from your problems wasn't the best way to solve them. Could she really leave her family behind, all her friends? The position in Europe was permanent and she wouldn't have as much pull with her new boss as she did with her current. What would happen to her fashion line? She had worked so hard to get that off the ground. It was a side project for now. It was the one thing she could do for herself, for the pure love of designing elegant gowns that completely embraced women in beauty.

There were so many reasons for her to stay and only one for her to leave.

She sighed heavily, pulling into a free spot on the side of the street, listening as the engine quieted before grabbing her purse and keys and stepping out of the warm car into the cool night air. She found herself at the Promenade, a small shopping center in the heart of Azabu, where she used loiter around when she was just a teen. She had come here plenty of times with the girls, staring longingly into Saks Fifth Avenue, the Coach and BCBG Store, wondering what it was like to have such nice things, to be enveloped in so much wealth that the world was at your fingertips.

Serena, was by no means, filthy rich, but the money that she did earn afforded her a comfortable lifestyle, free of having to worry about the haves and the have nots. She walked from Neiman Marcus to the Swarovsky, from Vera Wang to Jimmy Choo, admiring the well dressed mannequins and the women, exiting and entering, infecting the stores with impeccable fashion and uninhibited excitement.

She had ventured from the west wing to the east, picking up trinkets and hand bags as she shopped the night away, kept company by her lone solidarity, pleasantly enjoying the musings within her own mind. She contemplated dinner, resisting the temptation to go to the steakhouse on the first floor and indulge in an overpriced and fattening albeit delicious and fulfilling burger, when she heard a familiar voice speaking beside her.

She stopped quietly before turning her head, her eyes widening as cerulean met sapphire, his deep blue eyes wide with shock, hers squinting in confusion. He was there, with her, picking out things for the baby. Their baby. There was a clear bag under his arm, and through it she could see the small jumpsuit outlined with ducks, the tiny shoes, the baby books. He was preparing for the next path in his journey of life.

And finally her eyes fell upon the red head beside him, her arm tucked protectively under his, her hands clutching small bags full of trinkets that were undoubtedly for their child and her heart was so full of sorrow it might burst into a puddle of blood and tears. She was beautiful, leggy and elegant and swollen with his child. She smiled sadly to herself. That girl was living her dream, taking from her the life she had wanted since the moment that they had kissed. And as soon as she saw her that feeling came back, the suffocating, the feeling of drowning in a sea of grief, of envy and jealously.

She turned on her heel quickly, hearing Darien's voice as she walked as fast as her heels would permit toward the garage and into her car. He was calling her name louder, his stride larger his footsteps faster and before she knew it, his fingers had latched against her elbow, pulling her towards his body and turning her to face him.

"Serena." His voice was gentle and apologetic.

She glanced to the side, focusing on a child in the throes of a tantrum. Snot flinging from his nose, his hands balled into fist as he hammered the ground, his voice a piercing wail of fury. That's what Darien had to look forward to. A lifetime of that. She was lucky, she could still be self absorbed and free; she didn't have to worry about taking care of a child of her own.

"I'm…I'm sorry."

She shrugged her arm out of his grip. "Why are you sorry?" She looked to him, her eyes defiant, harsh, stony.

She was trying to be strong and callous; that he could see, and it was killing him. Meanwhile Lily was standing near them looking confused and incredibly guilty. "I didn't know you'd be here," he said, trying to ease the silence.

She laughed bitterly. "It's a free world, you don't need my permission to go shopping with your…your…"

"Lily."

"Right. Lily."

"Do you…You could say hi, I mean…"

"Why would I want to say hi?" she snapped. She was being a complete bitch. But she couldn't help it; it was either be a cunt to him or burst into tears in the middle of the god damn mall.

He sighed. "Please, Serena. Don't push me away. I want you to be a part of the baby's life. A part of my life-"

"I have to go. I have to leave. I can't stay," Serena said, turning away from him. Quickly she glanced back. "I want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy."

He tried to retort but she picked up her pace and his words fell upon deaf ears.

Only you can make me happy.

It had been five days since she had run into Darien, five days since she had been home, and over a week since she had spoken to her friends. She was hiding out at Molly's now, with her phone on silent and her computer off. Molly was at a medical conference for nurses and upon hearing news of Serena's complicated life, offered her a safe haven to run to. It was quiet here, away from nosy friends, controlling boyfriends and pleading ex-boyfriends. For the first time in a while, it was quiet enough for her to think, for her to make up her mind.

She was moving to London.

The transfer was finalized, the papers in the mail, she was leaving in less than a week. Her position started immediately. Professional movers were packing her things away, she was speaking to a lawyer about her design company, and her plane ticket was currently staring at her from across the living room. This was the right decision. This was what was best for her, for Darien, for everyone.

Now all she had to was tell her friends.

"Where have you been?" Raye asked, leaning dramatically against the chair as their waiter left quickly to fill their orders.

"I had some stuff to take care of," responded Serena.

"Which is why you wouldn't answer your phone all week?"

"Yeah, that's why," said Serena, sipping her water.

"Well you were right. Darien's ex-girlfriend is having his baby."

Serena snorted. "Of course I was right."

"Is this what you asked us here to talk about?" asked Mina, forking a piece of bread into her mouth.

"No. I have an announcement," said Serena, her stomach tightening up as she contemplated their reactions. "I got a promotion."

The collective squeal at the table was deafening, even to her ears. The shouting was immediately followed by a round of congratulations and hugs. "When does it come into effect?"

"Next week."

"Are you getting a bigger office?" asked Lita.

"Funny you should ask. Because I am. I'm getting a bigger office, in the new building I'm going to work at. Which is in London."

The constant chatter immediately became silent, realization painting their faces an ugly shade of shock and disbelief.

"You're leaving?" asked Mina, dropping the sourdough roll that was resting in her hands. "For how long?"

Serena shrugged, guilt washing over her. "Indefinitely."

"So it's settled?" asked Lita. "You're being promoted and moving away?"

"Yeah," said Serena looking at her friends quietly. Her eyes stung. "I'm going to be managing more employees and have more creative control over marketing. It's a really good opportunity."

"Of course it is," said Ami, staring at the other girls pointedly. "We're just surprised that's all, but we're all really happy for you, aren't we Raye?"

Serena looked to the brunette waiting for a response. Raye simply stared back, her eyes narrowing before taking a sip of water. "Why are you really leaving Serena?"

"What?

"You heard me." Raye asked, leaning across the table.

"I don't know what you're implying-"

"This is about Darien isn't it? What aren't you telling us?" Raye whispered harshly as she leaned further across the table.

"I'm telling you that I got a promotion, I thought you'd be happy for me."

"You're lying. Last week you get bent out of shape because Darien's girlfriend is pregnant, you avoid us for a week and now you're skipping town. I'm not stupid. Tell me what the hell is going on!"

"Raye, calm down," said Ami placating, placing a hand over her arm.

"Look," said Serena, rising from her seat and throwing her cloth napkin onto the table. "I just wanted you to hear about me moving from my own mouth. I'm not going to sit here and play twenty questions with you. I leave Thursday. Come by if you want to see me before then."

"I'm getting threatening phone calls you know," said Seiya, pouring her a glass of orange juice and setting it beside her. It was the first time she had been to his place in a long time. It was nice to see her there. "What's going on with you? Your friends keep asking me if I'm putting you up to this."

Serena grimaced before sipping the orange juice and staring solemnly at Seiya, her lips pursed. "I'm leaving town."

His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"I…I just need to go."

"On vacation?"

She chuckled. "No. For…a while. Until I can get my head straight."

Seiya smirked, shaking his head before pinching the bridge of his nose and looking up at her. "This is about Chiba, isn't it?"

"It's about a lot of things. My friends, Darien, you."

"Me?"

"I wasn't the best girlfriend to you. I haven't been a good friend to any of my friends. I've been keeping secrets. Lying. I need to leave. I need to start over, somewhere else."

"And you're telling me this now?"

"If it makes you feel better I told my friends today and Darien doesn't know."

"It doesn't." He paused. "What did you expect me to say?"

"I don't know. Be angry, say you never want to see me again."

"Well I'm angry," he said, rolling his eyes. This was not supposed to happen. She was supposed to fall into his arms not move further away from him!

"I just wanted to tell you."

"Fine. But that doesn't mean that I don't still love you, or that we're going to break up."

Her eyes widened. "Did you hear what I just said? I'm moving. To London! Thousands of miles away."

"I have a jet."

"It's not like it's a drive across town Seiya. It would take you hours to get there."

"Then make the trip worth my while."

"And how can I do that?"

Seiya smirked. Now was as good a time as any. "Marry me?"

She sighed, lifting her legs and letting them rest against the boxes that had long replaced furniture in her living room over the past two days. It had been one hell of a week. She had requested a transfer, decided to move to Europe, met the mother of Darien's child, fought with her friends and gotten engaged all in one week. She looked down to the enormous jewel that weighed down her left finger. What the hell was she thinking when she said yes to Seiya?

The response just sort of spilled out her mouth. She was twenty six years old, alone, feuding with her friends, and pining for a man she couldn't have. Sure, Seiya could be pompous and arrogant, but she had her fair share of flaws too. He loved her, loved her enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her despite how she had treated him the last few months. That had to count for something. Right?

She shut her eyes gently, listening to the ticking of the clock and the beating of her own heart. She had always imagined herself freshly engaged and this was not how she had expected to feel. Like she was making a really bad decision.

But the deed was done, she had already said yes and accepted the beautiful emerald cut three carat sparkler that was glistening on her hand. Two days from now she'd be in London, in a new town with a new position that had challenges of its own. Change was on the horizon, she should be excited. Not moping on her couch in the middle of her almost empty apartment.

She came to her feet, looking around the room before she ventured to what was left of her bedroom, just as the doorbell chimed loudly. She glanced at the clock momentarily; it was nearly one in the morning.

It was one of her friends; it had to be at this hour. Tiredly, she opened the door and reached for it before pulling it open. Standing before her was Darien Chiba, his hands resting on the doorway, worried eyes meeting her own.

"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice strained. Quiet.

"I don't think that's a good idea. It's late."

He stood silently, looking at her, his eyes sad. "Is it true?"

"Which part?"

He looked confused. "Raye told me…told me you're leaving."

"Oh," she said, hiding her left hand behind her back. "Yeah it's true. "

"Because of me?"

"Because of a lot of things."

"But mostly me?"

She smiled sadly. "Yeah mostly you."

His lips wavered. "Please don't do this."

"It's already done."

"What can I do? To make you stay?"

She laughed softly. "You can't do anything. The movers are coming tomorrow to take my things to be shipped, the contracts are signed. I'm going."

Darien inhaled sharply. "Okay." She stood there solemnly, him staring her, her staring at him, minutes passing by slowly. "Just answer me one question."

"Okay."

"Do you still love me?"

"I will always love you."

"Good," he said, before walking forward, pressing her body against his and capturing her mouth in a rough kiss. She inhaled harshly, surprise catching her off guard as she tumbled into his arms. His mouth was like fire against hers and before she knew it, her door was closed and she was pressed against it.

Surprise quickly turned into desire as his lips danced against hers. He moved slightly, kissing her cheek, her neck, dragging his teeth against her ears as she cried out his name. His hands found their way under her shirt, the loose sweater allowing him to freely explore, to grip and clutch her back as she dragged her nails across the back of his neck.

His hands moved to her breasts, kneading and squeezing them as desire attacked her from all sides, clouding her judgment and thrusting her body into a prison of want and need so powerful that it hurt. She was throbbing against the thickness that she could feel through his jeans, through her shorts.

She thrust her hips forward, her heat rubbing against him, causing them both to cry out.

"Jesus," he breathed, lifting her and walking with her to the couch before laying her on the soft pillows and covering her with his own body. She reached down quickly toward the hem of his shirt before lifting it off him and throwing it to the floor. Her hands clawing at his firm chest, his hard abdomen.

He bent down again, peppering kisses against her jaw line, lifting her sweater and letting his mouth engulf her breasts, kneading and sucking each one until her need for him to be fully inside of her became too great.

"Darien, please," she cried, his tongue dancing against her belly button, edging dangerously close to where she needed it the most.

"Tell me what you want," he breathed, his hand flicking the button on her jean shorts and pulling down her zipper.

"I need you, please," she cried out, wriggling out of her pants and sweater before staring up at him, naked and hungry.

He had forgotten how beautiful she was, completely natural and nude, bathed in the afterglow of the dead of night. She reached up toward him, undoing his belt, rubbing her hands against his length until he whimpered and moaned. He pushed her hands away gently and quickly removed his remaining clothing until he was as nude as her.

He covered her hurriedly, his mouth latching onto hers, his tongue, warm and wet, delving deeply into her sweet mouth as he pinched her nipples and prodded her legs open, letting his fingers brush against her wet folds. He eased in one finger, then two, making sure she was wet and fully ready for him.

She sung his name as he pumped his fingers in and out of her in a steady movement, building a beautiful friction that felt amazing as it drove her closer to the edge.

She whimpered when he removed his appendages from her and replaced it with his tip, letting it rest at her soaked entrance. He looked at her before he moved, making sure that she was positive that she wanted to do this with him. When she reached up and kissed him fervently, he got his answer.

He plunged into her fully, his length completely swallowed by her core, her muscles gripping him tightly the moment they felt his penetration. She inhaled sharply, a small amount of pain shooting through her as he thrust into her completely. It had been so long since he had touched her like this.

His eyes fell upon hers, as he used one had for leverage against the couch and one had propping himself up near her head. He pulled out slowly until his tip tickled her entrance before thrusting in sharply, until they were joined completely. His movements were slow, controlled, deep. Her name fell off his lips until he was hoarse, until his omissions became harsh cries of complete delight and fulfillment.

She reached a new high beneath, her eyes watching him as he loved her. She loved the small amount of sweat that dappled his forehead, adored the way he said her name, relished in the hooded look of lust and satisfaction that marred his features with each thrust of his body.

Quickly she began to feel something budding inside her, taking her to new heights of pleasure as he relentlessly drove into her, the frustration and pure need to feel her apparent in his movements. Her orgasm claimed her quickly, and she cried out into his neck as she shuddered and gasped beneath him, her body engulfing him in an emission of warm liquid.

His body spammed soon after, filling her with his seed as he muttered her name loudly, pumping into her until his climax seized him and he collapsed atop her, their damp bodies trembling and tired. He lay above her quietly, listening to the rapid beat of her heart as she stroked his back, kissed his cheek, ran her hands through his hair.

Her breathing evened out and he knew exhaustion had claimed her. Removing himself from her couch, he cradled her into his arms and carried her into her bedroom, resting her on the surface and covering her body with his own. He listened to the silence until sleep carried him into a world without dreams.

Seiya groaned deeply, listening as the sounds of moaning and heavy breathing turned into sighs of contentment and light snoring. Perhaps bugging her apartment hadn't been one of his better plans; he never thought that he would actually have to listen to the two of them having sex.

His mouth was upturned in disgust; his innocent little fiancée, falling into the arms and fucking another man.

This little game had gone on long enough and Darien would regret the day he crawled into his fiancées bed and took what was rightfully his. He really hadn't wanted it to get this far, but they had brought this upon themselves.

Slowly he reached for the phone and dialed a familiar number waiting for someone to answer. "Yes, Mr. Takagawa, sir?"

"Do you remember what we previously discussed, today?" he asked, fingering the expensive letter opener on his desk, twirling it around his fingers.

"Yes, sir, I do."

"Good, do it. I want it done by tomorrow. And nothing too sloppy, Harper, I don't want it being traced back to me."

"Consider done sir."

Seiya hung up the phone gently, bring the letter opener into his grip and using is to poke at his nails, his eyes focused on the clock.

A lesson had to be learned and they would learn it the hard way.

Seiya Takagawa always got what he wanted.